Check out this new documentary about three Latina immigrants working in an L.A. sweatshop. It aired on August 11 on Encore, but the DVD is available and there are other showings around the country. Read more …

For those of us who have no fear of rushing in, this is a great article on how to draw your own landscape plans. I must admit, it makes me tired just reading it, but it’s very illuminating, if only just enough to persuade you to hire a pro. Read more …

My good friend Jessica is working passionately on this fundraiser and speaks emotionally about the way that ASCNYC has helped turned lives around. If you can’t attend, please consider donating an auction item for this very worthy cause.

On June 25, join celebrity host NYC drag legend Flotilla DeBarge,Vivid Girl Savanna Samson, dance-pop singer Reina, superstar DJ, Vic Latino, and many more special guests for the summer’s sexiest fundraiser, promoting safer sex in the age of AIDS. Pamela Anderson, Joy Behar, Margaret Cho, Linda Eder, Ellie Krieger, Robert LaFosse, & Gloria Ruben have joined forces with ASC as part of this year’s benefit committee. The star-studded event will be from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Duvet, 45 Wests 21st Street, New York City. For more info, click here.

AIDS Service Center NYC (ASC) is a community based non-profit at the forefront of the fight against HIV/AIDS and the effort to ensure that all New Yorkers have access to HIV prevention, services, and treatment. For more information about AIDS Service Center NYC visit www.ascnyc.org.

Anastasia of Anastasia Beads does the most extraordinary glasswork, whether it’s her fabulous focals, her gorgeous jewelery sets or her amazing beads. Each piece, no matter how large or small, is like an intricate, glass-spun universe unto itself. Although I’m a creative person myself (I design clothes and sew), I simply can’t imagine fashioning glass into these objets d’art. See it for yourself.

Here’s a shout-out to Heather Lewis and her Lone Star Vintage Clothing site and blog. Heather is the mastermind behind the cool weekly projects here on Athena and the Mattie Reid site, but she hasn’t been able to post lately because she evacuated out of Houston last week and hasn’t been able to get back home yet. Since we can’t have her project this week, I’m offering up a little budget style on her site. Then you can read about her Hurricane Ike adventures. Happy Trails to you, Heather, and get home safely!